This collection offers a fascinating insight into the artistry one of the great musicians of the twentieth century, the legendary cellist Gregor Piatigorsky (1903-1976).

The recordings in this collection are either previously unissued studio recordings, or if issued, were not widely distributed when they were initially released, or are previously unissued public performances that were only heard when originally broadcast from the concert hall.

This material constitutes a significant portion Piatigorsky’s recorded legacy and provides eloquent evidence of his importance in the world of modern cello playing, especially for those who never had the opportunity to hear him live.

Contents:
CD 1
Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor, Op.33
Philadelphia Orchestra / A Hilsberg
1949

Schumann: Cello Concerto in A, Op.129
New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra / F Reiner
1943

Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op.85
New York Philharmonic-Symphony / J Barbirolli
1940

CD 2
R Strauss: Don Quixote, Op.35
Bloch: Schelomo: Rhapsodie hébraïque
Los Angeles Philharmonic / A Wallenstein
1955

CD 3
Hindemith: Concerto
CBS Symphony / P Hindemith
1943

Also included:
Works by Piatigorsky, Saint-Saëns, Rubinstein, Weber, Ravel, Massenet, Rachmaninov and Saint-Saëns
CBS Symphony Orchestra/ A Kostelanetz and NBC Symphony / D Voorhees

CD 4
Boccherini (arr. GP): Sonata in C
R Berkowitz (piano)
mid-1940s

Weber: Sonata in A (arr. GP)
I. Newton (piano)
1933

Beethoven: 12 Variations in F Op.66
L Foss (piano)
Beethoven: Sonata No.2 in G minor, Op.5/2
A Schnabel (piano)
Brahms: Sonata No.1 in E minor, Op.38
A Rubinstein (piano)
1936

CD 5
Grieg: Sonata in A minor, Op.36
R Berkowitz (piano)
1945 (unissued)

Debussy: Sonata No.1 in D minor
R Berkowitz (piano)
1947 (unissued)

Barber: Sonata, Op.6
R Berkowitz (piano)
1947 (unissued)

Prokofiev: Sonata, Op.119
R Berkowitz (piano)

CD 6
Tracks 1-15
Rare 1924-1934 issued recordings by Davidov, Popper, Chopin, Sarasate, Beethoven, Ippolitov-Ivanov, Glinka, Massenet, Mendelssohn, Moszkowski and Tchaikovsky

Tracks 16-24
- Unissued Columbia recordings by Piatigorsky, Bloch, Prokofiev
- A VOA recording by Prokofiev
- Issued recordings by Scriabin, Granados and Foss.

Bonus DVD - Gregor Piatigorsky in Performance
Chapter 1
Weber-Piatigorsky: Andante [Adagio] et Rondo (1934)

Chapter 2 An Early Television Profile (1949)
Works by Bach, Chopin, Prokofiev, Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky, and Schubert, all with Ralph Berkowitz (piano)

Chapter 3  Rubinstein-Heifetz-Piatigorsky Trio (1949)
Schubert: Trio in Bb (Mvt 1)
Mendelssohn: Trio in D minor Op.49

Chapter 4 from Carnegie Hall
Saint-Saëns: The Swan (1947)